Pennies for Change

Cathy was a vibrant and tenacious Specialist in the United States Army. She enjoyed an active lifestyle and spending time with her friends and boyfriend, who is now her husband. She ran marathons to support stroke victims. She was the picture of a determined, young soldier.

And then, her life was turned upside down when she became very ill while stationed in Germany. Doctors speculated that she may not pull through. However, they underestimated Cathy's sheer strength and determination. Over the next two years and after multiple surgeries, Cathy had to relearn how to walk, talk, manage excruciating nerve pain and do everyday tasks that we often take for granted. These challenges are what ultimately brought her to Maryland Therapeutic Riding.

Located in Crownsville, Maryland, Maryland Therapeutic Riding (MTR) provides equine therapy for children, adults, military and Veterans with special needs. The TowerCares Foundation supports MTR's Equine Services for Heroes Program, which provides equine therapy for active military and Veterans wounded in the line of duty. Because of this support, Cathy was able to ride at no cost.

The MTR team worked with Cathy to establish goals so she could live a fuller, more engaging life. One of those goals was to simply be able to stand up to brush her equine-partner. Cathy's team worked alongside her to accomplish this task, oftentimes providing physical support. By building her core strength, sense of balance and coordination through the act of standing and brushing, Cathy found she was also able to manage many day-to-day tasks more independently. Her husband received a call at work one afternoon from an excited Cathy who was elated to be standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes all by herself!

The Pennies for Change program will directly support Veterans like Cathy, whose lives have been forever changed because of MTR. Like so many others, Cathy's experiences at MTR have not only helped her to become more independent in the saddle, but her life out of the saddle has improved greatly as well.

When Emerson "Emme" and Elle were born at just 25 weeks at Johns Hopkins Children's Center (JHCC), doctors gave the twin girls a slim chance of survival. More bad news followed—both babies had large bleeds on the brain. Doctors determined that Elle's condition would likely heal on its own, but Emme's condition was more severe, and it was unlikely that she would ever walk or talk.

At 21 days old, Emme had her first brain surgery. The surgery did not go as expected, so a second procedure was required. While both babies were able to go home after 106 days in the hospital, Emme required two more surgeries to drain fluid from her brain—all before her first birthday. Then, before her second birthday, Emme began having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy and cerebral palsy.

At age 4, Emme had a fifth brain surgery. That same year, she hit a huge milestone by walking independently for the first time. By age 6, Emme's seizure medication had stopped working and she required a sixth brain surgery in March of 2023. Five days after the successful surgery, she was walking again.

Today, Emme is thriving, getting amazing math scores, playing games, and doing all the things that a child her age should be doing. Elle, who also had to overcome adversity early on, continues to thrive as well. She loves her sister, and is full of compassion and empathy for others.

Elle and Emme are just two examples of the over 45,000 children who receive world class care at JHCC. The Children's Center is Maryland's largest children's hospital and the only state-designated Trauma Service and Burn Unit for Pediatric patients.

The Pennies for Change program will help support critically ill children receiving treatment at JHCC, and their families, providing funds to sustain programs and ensure resources are available for patients in need.

Eighteen-year-old Elgin from Trappe, Maryland, is a kind-hearted and resilient young woman with a gentle spirit and a deep love for her family.

Living with a nervous system disorder, Elgin faces daily challenges with courage and grace. Despite these challenges, she continues to find joy in the things she loves most—listening to music that lifts her spirits, spending quality time watching cooking shows with her dad, and reminiscing about her days as an avid field hockey player.

Elgin's love for her family is at the heart of who she is. She shares a close bond with them, and their support and love have been a constant source of strength for her. Her wish was to visit New York City — a dream that recently came true during the winter holiday season.

Elgin and her family took in all the magic the city had to offer. From marveling at the majestic Rockefeller Christmas Tree to being swept away by the lights and music of Chicago and Wicked on Broadway, the experience was everything she had hoped for and more. She stood in awe at the One World Observatory, enjoyed the festive wonder of the Christmas Spectacular, explored the lifelike figures at Madame Tussauds, and soaked in the city's energy on a Big Bus tour.

Every moment of the trip was filled with wonder, joy, and unforgettable memories. For Elgin and her family, this trip was more than just a vacation—it was a celebration of love, resilience, and the simple beauty of being together. Her story is one of quiet strength, sweet moments, and dreams fulfilled.

Elgin's wish is just one of over 11,500 wishes Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic has granted for children fighting critical illnesses in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia since its founding in 1983.

TowerCares Foundation donations from Tower's Pennies for Change program goes to support Make-A-Wish^® Mid-Atlantic's Uniformed Services Family Wish Fund, which helps children with critical illnesses, whose parent(s) are active duty, reserve or Veterans. Many of these children reside in the Baltimore/Washington area or are being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Click here to watch a video about the Uniformed Services Family Wish Fund.